By Onerio Neto, Development Instructor programme 2006
In 2006, I had the opportunity to participate in a volunteering program at the College for International Cooperation and Development (CICD) in Hull, England. This was my first trip outside of Brazil and I can say it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The program helped me grow as an individual and gave me a unique perspective on the world.
I remember fondly the 10 months I spent at the CICD, where hard work was always necessary. Overcoming barriers was a daily challenge, and I had the opportunity to work on various tasks, including cleaning, kitchen care, collecting used clothing, selling magazines on the streets to raise funds for my project in Africa, building improvements to the school facilities and much more.
However, not everything was work and studies: in the summer of 2007, my team and I went to Denmark, to the TVIND school where we had an incredible theater competition that included various schools from the local NGO Humana People to People located in Europe. This moment was very special to me, as I got to meet other volunteers from different parts of the world and it was beautiful to participate in a theater competition where we had sunny days and I got to practice for almost 2 months to present our play in this meeting.
After this period in England, I went to Mozambique, in a project called "School of Future Teachers" in the village of Muzuane Baixa located in the city of Nacala, in the north of the country, and there I was able to perform various tasks as a teacher and organizer of that project.
Last year, in 2022, on my 40th birthday, I returned to the CICD to visit the school and see my teachers and colleagues again. It was an exciting experience to revisit the old times and make a personal reflection of everything that has happened in these almost 15 years. I can say for sure that this volunteering experience changed my life and I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to participate.
If you are considering enrolling in the CICD Development Instructor program, I encourage you to do so. The lives of the people who participate in this program change completely and it is an amazing opportunity for personal growth and contribution to the world.